Peter Fernandez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Fernandez
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Fernandez in 2007
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| Born | January 29, 1927 New York City, U.S.
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| Died | July 15, 2010 (aged 83) Pomona, New York, U.S.
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| Years active | 1930s–2009 |
| Spouse(s) |
Noel Smith
(m. 1978) |
| Children | 3 |
Peter Fernandez (born January 29, 1927 – died July 15, 2010) was an American actor, voice director, and writer. He had a long career starting in the 1930s. He is most famous for his work on the 1967 Japanese cartoon series Speed Racer. Peter Fernandez helped write the scripts, directed the voice actors, and translated the theme song into English. He played a big part in bringing many Japanese anime shows to people who speak English. He also narrated the audio version of the book It Looked Like Spilt Milk.
Contents
Peter Fernandez's Life and Career
Early Life and Beginnings
Peter Fernandez was born in Manhattan, New York. He was one of three children born to Pedro and Edna Fernandez. His family had roots from Cuba, Ireland, and France. During the Great Depression, a tough economic time, Peter worked as a child model to help his family.
He also appeared on radio shows and in plays on Broadway. One of his early plays was Watch on the Rhine in 1941. When he was 18, he joined the United States Army during World War II. After leaving the Army in 1946, he became a writer for radio and wrote many adventure stories. He also wrote a children's book called Bedtime Stories from the Bible.
Voice Acting and Speed Racer
Peter Fernandez was well-known for his voice acting. He lent his voice to the English versions of many foreign films and TV shows. His most famous role was the voice of the main character, Speed Racer, and his mysterious brother, Racer X, in the 1967 anime series Speed Racer. He also wrote the English lyrics for the show's catchy theme song.
In the original Japanese Speed Racer, the characters' mouths moved very quickly. To make the English voices match, Peter Fernandez and the other voice actors came up with a fast way of speaking their lines. This "rapid-fire" dialogue became a famous part of the show.
Later, Peter Fernandez returned to the Speed Racer world. He voiced an older Headmaster Spritle in the 2008 animated series Speed Racer: The Next Generation. He even had a small role as a racing announcer in the live-action 2008 Speed Racer movie.
Other Voice Roles
Peter Fernandez voiced Benton Tarantella, a film director, in the cartoon show Courage the Cowardly Dog. He said this was his favorite role. He also voiced Robot Randy and other characters in the show.
He worked as a voice director for other animated series like Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers and Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders. His voice can also be heard in English versions of popular anime shows such as Astro Boy, Gigantor, Marine Boy, Star Blazers, and Superbook.
In 2007, Peter Fernandez received a special award called The Special American Anime Award for Outstanding Achievement. He was interviewed in 2008 about his career. His last big public appearance was at an event called Sakura-Con in Seattle, Washington, in 2009.
Personal Life and Passing
Peter Fernandez lived in Pomona, New York, with his wife, Noel Smith. They got married in 1978 and had three children together.
He passed away on July 15, 2010, at the age of 83. He had been battling lung cancer.
Peter Fernandez's Work
Live-Action Roles
- Captain Video and His Video Rangers
- City Across the River – Frank Cusack
- Speed Racer – Race Commentator
- Suspense – Miguel
Japanese Animation (English Voices)
- Astro Boy
- Gigantor – Buttons Brilliant, Johnny
- Marine Boy – Dr. Mariner, Piper
- Speed Racer – Speed Racer, Racer X, and others
- Star Blazers: The Bolar Wars – Mark Venture
- Superbook – Additional Voices
American Animation (Voice Roles)
- Ace Ventura: Pet Detective – Additional Voices
- Courage the Cowardly Dog – Benton Tarantella, Robot Randy, The Magic Tree of Nowhere
- Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders – Max, Grimm the Dragon
- Speed Racer: The Next Generation – Headmaster Spritle, Speed Racer Sr.
Film Roles
- Alakazam the Great – Alakazam (speaking voice)
- Godzilla versus the Sea Monster – Ryota
- Son of Godzilla – Goro
- Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster – Yukio
- What's Eating Gilbert Grape – ADR Voice (voice added later)
Video Games
- The Longest Journey – Elder Banda, Minstrum Yerin, Old Alatien man
Other Projects
- Speed Racer (Theme Song Lyrics)
- It Looked Like Spilt Milk (Audio Book)
